TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) — New Jersey governor Chris Christie is sticking to his guns on the issue of same-sex marriage, but wonders why its proponents are sticking to theirs.

During a capitol news conference today to announce two new cabinet appointments, the governor was asked repeatedly about the same-sex marriage bill being fast-tracked toward his promised veto.

He says the rejection of his suggestion of a Constitutional referendum puzzles him:

“I don’t know why they’ve ruled it out — doesn’t make any sense to be — because they know what’s going to happen here, which makes you think the only reason they’re doing this is politics, because if they really cared about the issue and they know the way this is going to end, then why don’t they give same-sex couples in New Jersey the opportunity to make their case to the public? I don’t know.”

Christie says comparisons of him to notorious segregationist governors is wrong because they’d never have allowed a civil rights referendum.